Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre co-founder James Wilson died Thursday afternoon from injuries he sustained in a tractor accident earlier in the week.

According to family sources, Wilson was riding his tractor on Old Dam Road near his home on Monday morning when he suffered a heart attack. He lost control of the tractor, which then ran into a fence. The collision with the fence ejected Wilson from the tractor causing him to break his neck and severely bruise his brain.

He was taken to Chatham Hospital before he was transported to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, where doctors tried to handle the swelling in his brain caused by the injury. Wilson never regained consciousness and died at 5 p.m. Thursday at the hospital with family and friends by his side. He was 70.

Born in Morganton, Wilson had three brothers and two sisters. He played basketball, football and baseball for Glen Alpine High School, where he was part of the school’s 1961 football championship team.

His younger brother, John Wilson, said on Friday he would often attend the team’s football practices at the high school. Growing up in Morganton, John said he did just about everything with James.

“We were a close-knit family of six,” John Wilson said. “We were poor, but didn’t know it.”

John Wilson still lives in Morganton and would often visit his brother in Snow Camp to see the dramas performed at the Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre.

James Wilson moved to Snow Camp in 1965 with his wife, Louise. He left his job at Kirksey Funeral Home to start a new life in Alamance County. Before establishing the outdoor theater in Snow Camp, James worked as a dairy farmer, a parts manager for Byrd Tractor, and later opened a restaurant.

An ongoing interest in sports led him to help establish the Sylvan Athletic Association in southern Alamance County where he went on to coach several teams. A love for acting and dramas never left him throughout his adult life.

John Wilson said a former teacher, Mrs. Taylor at Glen Alpine High School, introduced his brother to acting and theater. In 1972, James began to work with his brother Bobby on an idea to bring an outdoor theater to Snow Camp. Since 1973, the Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre has been a vital part of the community. It celebrated its 40th year this summer.

Family and friends are still coming to terms with James’ untimely death.

“It was a very unexpected thing that happened,” said Louise Wilson. The couple was married 51 years.

LOUISE WILSON SAID her husband gave all he had to making sure the outdoor theater remained a success through the years. Granddaughter Chelsey Wilson has been part of the operation since she was 9 months old, when James carried her on stage as part of a production. She said her grandfather remained active with the outdoor theater through this past season. While he didn’t move around quite as well as he used to, having to use a wheelchair because of his knee replacements. It didn’t keep him from being involved in what was going on day to day at the theater.

Page 2 of 3 - Chelsey Wilson recalled a conversation she had with him about the summer production season, which wrapped almost two weeks ago. He told her about how long the theater had been running and how, despite there being so many doubters in the beginning, it had managed to survive despite some challenges.

“We swapped a lot of stories in the concession stand,” she said. “Everybody loves James’ popcorn.”

For the past seven years, Chelsey Wilson has worked as an operation manager at the outdoor theater. The “Sword of Peace” and “Pathway to Freedom” have remained two constants, produced each summer.

Ed Whitehead has served as the outdoor theater’s director for the past 12 years. Whitehead first came to the theater in 1983, when he auditioned for an acting part. He’s been an integral part ever since. Whitehead served as director from 1999 to 2001 and returned in 2005 to assist.

“James was an incredibly compassionate person who cared about people,” Whitehead said. “He believed that he could never ask somebody to do something he wouldn’t do himself.”

Whitehead said James Wilson cared deeply for the company of actors who spent their summers with him in Snow Camp. Many of them from previous summers returned this year to help celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Bryan Wilson said the 40th anniversary of the outdoor theater was special for his father and those associated with the productions over the years. Many revisited the place that had become their training ground.

Because of that interest, the family has decided to host a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Oct. 5 at the Wilson Amphitheatre at the Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre in honor of James Wilson. The October date would give people who wanted to attend the memorial service from out of state more time to plan their trip, Bryan Wilson said.

FOR THE past 13 years, James Shields has been part of the Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre as an actor in “Pathway to Freedom.” Shields serves as Snow Camp Historical Drama Society president.

“I was impressed with James’ passion for the Quaker community,” Shields said.

Shields said James Wilson’s death was a tragic loss and believed he would want the theater to continue in his memory.

“We hope the community will rally around this.” Shields said.

Shields said many were still feeling “numb” about James’ sudden death.

“He brought so many people to Snow Camp for the summer over the past 40 years,” Shields said. “So many used the outdoor theater as a springboard for their passion.”

One of those is Jay Williams of Greensboro who won a role in “The Sword of Peace” at age 9. During the past 11 years, Williams said he became close to the Wilson family. Williams is now a theatre major at UNC-Greensboro.

Page 3 of 3 - “He gave me numerous opportunities to enhance my career in theater and offered me my first full-time professional acting job as well as introduced me to the job as pyrotechnics manager,” Williams said. “Through him, I made amazing friendships and learned the value of hard work through his example. He was a great friend and mentor and he will be missed.”

Becky Griffin of Siler City was impressed with the passion for excellence James Wilson brought to the theater. Griffin’s children became involved in “The Sword of Peace” six years ago.

“He dedicated his life to making Snow Camp what it is today,” Griffin said. “He put his blood, sweat and tears into that theater, volunteering his time and health in some cases at his own expense. He also encouraged us to do and be our very best.”

Scott Rivera of Yanceyville first met James Wilson in 1986 when he became a part of the outdoor theater family. Rivera said that James “was like a second father.” Rivera returned in 1987 to work as an associate stage manager and later worked at the theater full-time in stage production.

Rivera’s daughter, Olivia, has also been involved in the Snow Camp productions. Rivera said he appreciated the focus on family-oriented entertainment.

“It was tough seeing him in that situation,” said Rivera, who visited James Wilson just before his death. “We always hoped he would get up.”